Small bit from the Hotline summarizing it:
Wall Street Journal’s Harwood writes Obama “flavors orthodox” Dem “liberalism with support for welfare reform, charter schools and an overhauled death penalty.” But “his message isn’t milquetoast. He embraced Howard Dean’s antiwar themes, in contrast to the cautious support” that John Kerry provided the WH on Iraq and other Bush initiatives that Kerry now criticizes. Obama: “Democrats make a mistake when we get steamrolled on the front end and then whine about it on the back end.” Given IL’s increasingly Dem cast, “it isn’t likely” that Obama “will stumble. But he could.” Ryan is credible, “and the issue of race remains a wild card anywhere” (3/31).
“and the issue of race remains a wild card anywhere”
Jesse White carried every county in Illinois in the 2002 SoS race.
If elected I predict Barack will vote to the right of Dick Durbin. Not by alot but just enough on key votes to keep him “viable”. He has that rare blend of talent and ambition that can get him on a presidential ticket. He will vote accordingly.
I think those outside of Illinois overstate the role of race in Illinois politics. It certainly matters, but it isn’t the hot button it is in other places.
He was briefly but signifigantly mentioned in “The Note” today as well – basically the DSCC’s gaudy fundraising numbers are being attributed to his election